Annamarie Mendez, left, and Beth Smith hug Sunday afternoon on the sidewalk next to Poirier’s Market at 38 Walnut Str. in Lewiston during a vigil for their good friend, Lorenzo Melendez, who died Saturday. “He was like family, the patriarch of the neighborhood,” Smith says, wiping away tears. Melendez was 57. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Dozens gathered to mourn Sunday afternoon at 38 Walnut St., near Poirier’s Market, for Lorenzo Melendez, a pillar of the homeless and unhoused community.

Melendez died Saturday from liver disease, according to Naya Bolduc, who was “like a daughter” to Melendez, according to several who attended the vigil. He was 57.

Friends hug, toast and honor Lorenzo Melendez on Sunday afternoon on Walnut Street in Lewiston after Melendez died Saturday in hospice care. He was 57. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bolduc oversaw Melendez’s care during his final days at Andwell Hospice House in Auburn. She also organized the vigil.

One of several photographs of Lorenzo Melendez on a poster taped to a wall Sunday afternoon at 38 Walnut St. in Lewiston. Many attended a vigil for Melendez, who died Saturday of liver disease. He was 57. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Bolduc said Melendez was “the light of everybody’s life.”

“He could put a smile on anybody’s face, even on their worst day,” Bolduc said. “Feeding the ducks in Auburn was one of his favorite things to do. I remember one time I was so depressed, and he took me out there and we just fed the ducks. It was so nice.”

Bolduc said Melendez died peacefully and comfortably in hospice care.

“He was warm, didn’t have to die out in the cold,” she said.

Annamarie Mendez and mutual friend Deandra Gagnon cried and hugged while talking about Melendez. Mendez said she knew Melendez for more than 13 years, and he was like an uncle to her children.

“He was a good friend and was just nice to everyone,” Gagnon said, recalling a recent barbecue at which Melendez had been the life of the party. “He made us laugh so much.”

“He really would just bring this community together,” Mendez said. “This is affecting everybody.”

Megan Parks, the founder of the Lewiston Shelter Development Team, was among the many who came out to pay their respects to Melendez and his memory.

Parks said she knew Melendez well and was devastated to hear of his death.

“It impacts the city in a bigger way,” she said. “He did a lot of handyman work for landlords and the stores. He did a lot just beyond being in the community.”

Melendez was a “jack of all trades,” but not just as a go-to guy for local businesses in need of someone to perform an odd job, Mendez said. Melendez was also a steady support system for many in the neighborhood, whether they were unhoused or not.

Photographs of Lorenzo Melendez fill one of the posters hanging Sunday afternoon on a wall at 38 Walnut St. in Lewiston. Many attended a vigil for Melendez, who died Saturday of liver disease. He was 57. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

“I’m not surprised so many people came out for him,” Mendez said.

Added Bolduc, “Oh, more people will be coming.”

One of several posters hanging Sunday afternoon on a wall at 38 Walnut St. in Lewiston. Many attended a vigil for Lorenzo Melendez, who died Saturday of liver disease. He was 57. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal